ATHENS, Ohio - In the final home game of her stellar career, senior Jenny Tisevich homered and drove in two runs, but it wasn't enough as the Bobcat softball squad fell to Akron by a final of 7-3.

In a game that was back-and-forth throughout, the Zips (24-24, 8-12 MAC) exploded for four runs and two homers in the top of the seventh to break a 3-3 tie and earn the series sweep on Ohio?s (18-35, 4-15 MAC) senior day.

?We really showed up to play today. Despite the final score, we threatened every inning and kept battling back,? said Ohio Head Coach Roanna Brazier. ?We showed a lot of heart today.?

Akron was the first to strike with a tally on the scoreboard in the top of the second. With runners at the corners and two outs, Bobcat catcher Maghan Lunsford threw to second on a steal attempt, but no one covered the bag and the ball skidded to center field, bringing home the Akron runner from third.

Nearly the exact situation repeated itself in the bottom half of the second. With Tisevich on with a walk and Emily Futscher reaching on a single, Futscher attempted to steal second. The throw was not handled at the bag, allowing Tisevich to score and Futscher to advance to third on a close play. She was stranded, however, as Kelly Barnhart struck out to end the inning.

The Zips quickly regained the lead in their next at-bat. After a leadoff walk, Ohio hurler Keri Harley retired the next two batters but could not get out of the inning. Another walk put two runners on for Akron and an infield single brought home the go-ahead run from third for a 2-1 lead.

After both teams went in order in their next at-bats for the first time in the game, Tisevich took the first offering from Akron starter Tina McCauley in the fourth inning over the right field wall for her fifth homer of the year and second in two days to tie the game at 2-2.

Once again, the Zips stormed right back ahead in the top of the fifth. After a one-out walk and stolen base, a single up the middle brought home the runner from second for a 3-2 advantage.

The Bobcats threatened in the bottom of the fifth as Barnhart led off with a double to the warning track, the first extra base hit of her career. She then stole third base but was thrown out at home two batters later. An attempt was made to catch Courtney Waters stealing at second and she reached safely, but Barnhart was thrown out at home and Waters was caught trying to advance to third for an inning-ending double play.

Ohio was eventually able to draw even in the sixth on a RBI double by Tisevich. Shannon Wiedner reached with a one-out walk and was pinch run for by Kristen Salvatore, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Tisevich then doubled to the wall in right center to tie the game for the third time at 3-3.

The see-saw affair continued into the top of the seventh, but this time Akron exploded for four runs and two homers to extend to a 7-3 advantage. With two outs, Kerry Omerza sent a solo shot over the left field wall off of Bobcat reliever Katlyn Mallette for a 4-3 lead. An Akron single followed and with Harley reentering to pitch, Jaclyn Spirtos hammered a two-run homer down the left field line for a 6-3 advantage. Before the damage was done, the Zips tacked on another run to vault ahead 7-3.

Marian Davis drew a leadoff walk in the Bobcats? last at-bat and Barnhart followed with an infield single to get Ohio in business, but McCauley retired the next three batters to close out the game.

Mallette (1-3) took the loss for Ohio. The sophomore pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief and allowed three runs on four hits. Harley gave up four runs on seven hits in four combined innings of work.

Megan MacKenzie (7-7) earned the victory in relief of McCauley, who later reentered to close the game out. McCauley allowed two runs on five hits in five total innings with six strikeouts.

Spirtos and Omerza each finished with three hits for the Zips.

Each of the four seniors ? Tisevich, Barnhart, Jennifer Hodson, and Harley ? played an important role in the series finale, but none were able to prevent Ohio from dropping its fourth straight decision.

Tisevich finished 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs and was joined by classmate Kelly Barnhart as the Ohio hitting starts. Barnhart had one of her best days as a Bobcat, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a stolen base.

?Kelly (Barnhart) just wants to play, probably more than anyone on the team,? Brazier said. ?I?m so excited that she came through today.?

Getting just her fourth start of the season, Hodson recorded a number of solid plays at shortstop, and Harley didn?t allow more than one Akron batter to reach base in any of her first four innings of work before being replaced.

The Bobcats will close out the season next weekend with a three-game set at Buffalo. The two teams will clash in a doubleheader on Saturday and finish with the series finale on Sunday. The action is set to commence at 1 p.m., both days.